Historic Towns & Sites of the Chesapeake BayA cruise from Philadelphia to Alexandria

Itinerary

October 21 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Embark
Arrive in Philadelphia and transfer to the pier to embark Yorktown. (D)

October 22- Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Annapolis, Maryland
After sailing through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, arrive in Annapolis, a city of narrow brick streets, colonial mansions, and an atmosphere of an old shipping village. Your tour will include the Maryland State House, the oldest U.S. capitol in continuous legislative use, where the Treaty of Paris was ratified. You'll also visit the William Paca House and Garden (the expansive estate of a former governor of Maryland), and the historic U.S. Naval Academy. In the afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to stroll through the historic neighborhoods. (B,L,D)

October 23 - St. Michaels
Arrive in St. Michaels, a quaint waterfront village set on a picturesque peninsula. Explore the town with its manicured colonial, federal, and Victorian homes, art galleries, and interesting maritime history. (B,L,D)

October 24 - Tangier Island, Virginia
Call in Tangier Island, located on the Lower Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay. This island’s fascinating history begins with its original inhabitants, the Choctaw Indians, whose arrowheads are still found throughout the area. European colonists, including John Smith, settled on the island in the 17th century, and during the War of 1812 the British used it as a staging area. Today, the island is home to a number of residents, but it remains relatively isolated from the mainland, creating a pleasant sense of tranquility. Its remoteness has perhaps also contributed to the unique English Restoration era dialect spoken by island natives. (B,L,D)

October 25 - Richmond, Petersburg
Visit Virginia’s historic capital of Richmond, which also served as the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. The city is filled with many interesting Revolutionary and Civil War sites and museums. Your tour will include St. John’s Episcopal Church, the site where Patrick Henry made his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech during the Revolutionary War. Also visit the interactive American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, which tells the story of the Civil War from the perspectives of the Confederacy, the Union, and the slaves. In the afternoon travel south to Petersburg, an important city for the Confederacy, to tour important Civil War battleground sites. (B,L,D)

October 26 – Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg
From the port of Yorktown, our excursion leads to historic Colonial Williamsburg. The capital of the Virginia colony from 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg is the nation’s premier living museum, offering visitors a glimpse of life as it was in the 17th and 18th centuries. A guided tour leads along the Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg’s main thoroughfare, past the Capitol, the courthouse, the Governor’s Palace, and the historic Bruton Parish Church, which has held Episcopal services since 1715. Then enjoy time at leisure to explore the museums and side streets, which are filled with taverns, bakeries, and the restored houses of wheelwrights, coopers, apothecaries, and other tradesmen. (B,L,D)

October 27 - Alexandria, Mount Vernon
Today Yorktown cruises the Potomac River to reach Alexandria. Drive to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate and gardens. Spend the day touring the sweeping grounds, including the mansion, museum, slaves’ quarters, and the gardens. Also visit the recently opened distillery, a reconstruction of Washington’s original whiskey distillery. (B,L,D)

October 28 - Alexandria, Disembark, Fly Home
Disembark in Alexandria and transfer to the airport for return flights. (B)